Many Peaces, Arts in Peacebuilding Training

Are you a young person passionate about the arts and committed to making a difference in your community and beyond?  We invite you to join our upcoming training and discussion series focused on leveraging the power of young voices in peacebuilding efforts across borders. Led in collaboration with Creativity & Change MTU Cork and Sauti Studios/Cork Migrant Centre by socially engaged artist Helen O’Keeffe and rap artist and spoken word poet Raphael Olympio, this training will explore issues that matter to you. This Cork (Ireland)-based residential opportunity for youth leaders and young people will provide a safe space to unlock your potential in communicating through the arts and will explore creative forms for enhanced collaboration, acknowledging the need for many peaces. This hands-on training course will combine the power of art with the energy of young visionaries from diverse backgrounds to explore how transnational cooperation can lead to a more peaceful and sustainable future. Build a creative toolkit and learn how to engage collaborative processes like spoken word poetry, rap music, street art and zine making to navigate difficult conversations and bring attention to urgent global issues.

What to Expect:

• Engage in hands-on workshops in music, visual arts, and other creative media to develop skills in using the arts for social change.
• Gain insights into European project opportunities like Erasmus+ Youth Participation and European Solidarity Corps, which support cross-border relationships and contribute to durable peace and future development.
• Participate in facilitated dialogues addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in peacebuilding across various regions and cultures.
• Connect with peers from different countries, share experiences, and collaborate on joint peacebuilding projects.

Participants will:

• Create awareness-raising art through collaborative processes

• Develop experience working with others in solidarity.

• Gain new creative methods and confidence in expressing their voices through these approaches.
• Connect local issues to global contexts, understanding how Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps can support their efforts.
• Leave with ideas and potential partners for national or international youth projects.

This training is intended for young individuals aged 18-30 who are new to or have limited experience with Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects. It aims to provide information on funding opportunities in Youth Erasmus+ and ESC for young people. 

12th January 7.30 pm dinner- arrivals

13th January 9.00 am- 5.00pm 

14th January 9.00 am- 5.00pm 

15th January 9.00am- 1.00pm -departures

Trainers: 

Helen O' Keefe is a collaborative artist and facilitator with a background in art & design, youth arts work, creative facilitation and global citizenship education. This work has offered her many invaluable opportunities to collaborate with some of the best individuals, communities and organisations throughout Ireland and beyond, to develop workshops and resources, with visual art, street art and digital media informing meaningful participatory projects that support people’s work towards equity, justice and empowerment. She is most passionate about the potential of all young people and the power of art & community as a catalyst for change on personal, societal and, ultimately, global levels.

Raphael Olympiois a Cork-based rapper born in Lomé, Togo, West Africa during a time of post-civil war. His music is driven by stories that reflect where he is in life, the challenges he faces and the community he’s a part of. Olympio and his family fled to Ireland seeking asylum, spending almost 2 years in Direct Provision. He is also a healthcare worker, Occupational Therapist student at University College Cork, and youth mentor at the Cork Migrant Centre, Nano Nagle Place. Raphael also recently featured in RTE’s Change Makers Series (Episode 6) which is available on RTE Player.